Pakistan selectors made a U-turn ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand, bringing back Haris Rauf to the squad. Pakistan are set to play a three-match ODI series against New Zealand from March 29 to April 5.
Haris Rauf was initially not picked for the three-match series as Pakistan looked to bring in fresh faces following their Champions Trophy debacle. However, Haris has joined the ODI squad, which has begun training for the upcoming series, according to news agency Press Trust of India. According to a PCB source selector Aaqib Javed had also requested for a reserve wicketkeeper-batter to be added to the ODI squad and Muhammad Haris or Usman Khan would also be retained for the ODI series beginning at Napier on Saturday.
Babar Azam and captain Mohammad Rizwan, who were dropped for the T20I series, will return to the ODI squad.
Pakistan overlooked their star pacers Haris and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the ODI series after their disappointing outings in the Champions Trophy. While the two bowlers were picked in the recently-concluded five-match T20I series, they were not considered for the 50-over format.
However, Haris Rauf showed his class in the T20I series, picking up seven wickets and standing out on pitches that were batter friendly in the T20I series against New Zealand. He took seven wickets in the series, which Pakistan lost 1-4 on Wednesday, March 26.
Haris’s performances in the T20I series have forced the selectors to rethink their call. However, Shaheen, who was not picked for the final T20I on Wednesday, has not returned to the ODI squad.
PAKISTAN IN NEW ZEALAND ODI SQUAD: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sufyan Moqim and Tayyab Tahir, Haris Rauf.
